Cycling Races

12 June 2010

"21 levels of hell", or 21 steps to heaven

More information on L'Alpe d'Huez

This is such a great climb I thought I would add just a bit more information. The climb of Alpe d'Huez begins from the town of Bourg d'Oisans, a wonderful staging town at the base of the climb in the Romanche River Valley. From this town you can easily ride up the Alpe d'Huez, ride to the Col du Glandon, ride Les Deux Alpes, reach the Col du Lautaret, and reach the Vercours area (a wonderful area to ride).

Bourg d'Oisans has hotels and shops, a well known cycling jersey shop, a perfectly located grocery store as you arrive into the heart of the town, nice outdoor cafes with good views of the mountain with cyclists coming and going, and adequate parking. There are also plenty of cafe/bars near the top and at the top of Alpe d'Huez. After riding the perfectly engineered switchback road clinging tightly to the mountain side, you will be shocked at how large the area at the top of this mountain is. The ski village of Alpe'dHuez (which opened in 1936) is well equipped to accommodate a stage of the TDF, and is located at bend #14.

The climb of Alpe d'Huez is 8.89 miles long (13.8 km), 3,749 elevation gain, average steepness is 7.9%, steepest grade is 14%. The first 2 turns are a long steep intimidating 13% climb, but the grade lessons to 8%. Don't become discouraged at the bottom, it gets better. Descending is fabulous fun. Most striking is that the corners are flat and the straights are jarringly steep. This is the opposite of mountain road construction in the United States. It is a thrilling climb. Unless you are racing it for an official time, why rush. (At sign #4 be sure to stay left, the road to the right will take you the back way off the mountain over a small rough balcony road with dark tunnels and more climbing).

I wanted to know:
Q: Alpe d'Huez was first included in the TDF in 1952. There have been 26 stage finishes on Alpe d'Huez, but there are only 21 signs, do they keep adding turns to the top of the mountain, or keep moving the signs down?

In 1999 Guiseppe Guerini collided with a fan standing in the middle of the road for a photo op. Unable to avoid the fan, Guerini fell to the ground within the last exciting 1km of the race. He remounted his bike and rode to the win.

In 1979 the climb was included in 2 different stages of the Tour de France.

In 2001 "The Look" by Lance Armstrong to Jan Ullrich happened on L'Alpe d'Huez in 2001. (Which wasn't a look)

In 2004 there was a Time trial up Alpe d"Huez.

In 2011, a recent famous moment on Alpe d'Huez happened at the 2011 Tour de France when Jens Voigt stopped to insure that the correct fan (a child) received his water bottle, read: A Tour de France Gift From Jens

It was also in 2011, that my favorite video was filmed of Laurens ten Dam, entering the Dutch Corner on Alpe d'Huez, began to rally the fans. Watch video

Marco Pantani is known to be the fastest rider, but there is debate over which year and distance should be considered as the record. Marco Pantani was the fastest at 37.35 minutes, Lance Armstrong 41.18 minutes.

Competitve Cyclist has a good writing on the climb,Part V. The Road to Alpe d’Huez:"For 16 years I've raced bikes, and while I love the sport, I dread the obnoxious preening done by racer-types at training rides and races as they feel the pressure of so many would-be alpha dogs preparing to butt heads. Alpe d'Huez had a completely different vibe — it was a celebration of the sport, of the Tour, and of the very spirit of trying to conquer mountains, both real and metaphorical. I saw no posturing, as though everyone there understood the fallacy of trying to define yourself as a bike racer when the only racers of consequence on planet Earth would be passing through in just a few hours."

Tour de France 2016

Coverage of the Tour de France may be seen at TourChaser.com. A brand new website by Pedal Dancer® for spectators and fans of pro racing. Please follow along - Tour Chaser is a cycling resource for those who watch pro races from home, along the barricade or on the roadside.

Pedal Dancer®

Inspiring cyclists and travelers A bike travel blog for travelers, cyclists and cycling fans. Covering Colorado, France, Tour de France, Spring Classics in Belgium, Cycling Events and more. Pedal Dancer Bike Calendars serve the community. Pedal Dancer blog is a resource light on opinion and heavy on information and joy of the sport.